Ubuntu installation questions

[wpshooter]

1) If I install Ubuntu on the hard drive along with my existing Windows O/S will Ubuntu require and make it's own partition or will it appropriate part of the Windows partition ? I have other unused space on my drive but I do NOT have it partitioned or formatted.

2) Can a virus that infects files, etc. on a Windows operating system also infect the Ubuntu O/S that is on the same hard drive ?

3) Where do I find sound files (wav & midi) to use with Ubuntu O/S or are the same files that are used in Windows also compatible with Ubuntu ?

4) Where are sound files (media) stored in the Ubuntu O/S ?

Thanks.

 

[phisrow]

Ubuntu needs its own partition, and usually a swap partition as well. The installer makes it pretty easy to turn unpartitioned space on the drive into the necessary partitions.

A virus in Windows could, in theory, by overwriting the hard drive, destroy the Ubuntu partition; but there is pretty much no way(certainly no way ever seen in the wild) for a viral infection to spread from Windows to Linux under usual conditions.

Sound files are exactly the same in Windows and Linux. There are a few things that won't work(mostly ghastly DRMed nonsense) but .wav, midi, ogg, and flac will work out of the box, and mp3 and most other formats can easily be installed.

In Linux you generally store files somewhere in your home folder. What sort of directories you create within that folder is entirely up to you. Personally, I have a "music" folder; but that isn't inherent to the operating system, just for my convenience.

 

[nweaver]

1. Ubuntu can use any unpartitioned space, it cannot use your windows partition.

2. no, there are very few virii targeted at linux, and they are fundementally different

3. You might have to install codecs to play some files. A WAV file is a WAV file, regardless of OS

4. What media files are you looking for?

 

[wpshooter]

Just sound files to association with different O/S functions like in Windows. If these are there, I have not discovered them yet.

Also, where do I find different desktop backgrounds ? From what I can see there are only 3 default backgrounds none of which are very appealing.

Thanks.

 

[cleverhandle]

Originally posted by: wpshooter
Just sound files to association with different O/S functions like in Windows. If these are there, I have not discovered them yet.

You mean like beeps and whistles and stuff? I think those are disabled by default (rightly so, IMO). If you're using GNOME, you can enable by going to Preferences->Sound and checking the boxes for "Enable sound server startup" and "Enable system sounds." But I find using the system much more pleasant without them.

Also, where do I find different desktop backgrounds ? From what I can see there are only 3 default backgrounds none of which are very appealing.

That may be all that come installed by default. There are probably Ubuntu packages with extra backgrounds. Maybe search "backgrounds" or "wallpaper." Or just find something you like online - you should be able to just drag the file somewhere onto the Change Background dialog to install it.

 

[scottish144]

Originally posted by: cleverhandle

Originally posted by: wpshooter
Just sound files to association with different O/S functions like in Windows. If these are there, I have not discovered them yet.

You mean like beeps and whistles and stuff? I think those are disabled by default (rightly so, IMO). If you're using GNOME, you can enable by going to Preferences->Sound and checking the boxes for "Enable sound server startup" and "Enable system sounds." But I find using the system much more pleasant without them.

Also, where do I find different desktop backgrounds ? From what I can see there are only 3 default backgrounds none of which are very appealing.

That may be all that come installed by default. There are probably Ubuntu packages with extra backgrounds. Maybe search "backgrounds" or "wallpaper." Or just find something you like online - you should be able to just drag the file somewhere onto the Change Background dialog to install it.

Search in OT for "wallpaper". There are a couple hundred post ur wallpaper threads in the archives. Or http://www.deviantart.com/ http://www.digitalblasphemy.com/

 

[Nothinman]

2) Can a virus that infects files, etc. on a Windows operating system also infect the Ubuntu O/S that is on the same hard drive ?

You could possibly run the virus with wine and let it infect any Windows files you have laying around, but that would be pretty dumb.

3) Where do I find sound files (wav & midi) to use with Ubuntu O/S or are the same files that are used in Windows also compatible with Ubuntu ?

Just about any data file is the same no matter what OS is in use.

4) Where are sound files (media) stored in the Ubuntu O/S ?

Most packages will put them somewhere beneath /usr/share.